Colorado State Sen. Randy Baumgardner, R-Hot Sulphur Springs, listens to debate on a concealed carry bill during action on the floor of the chamber Thursday, March 8, 2018, in the State Capitol on Denver. AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Senators voted 17-17 to defeat the measure to expel Sen. Randy Baumgardner, who represents the rural northwest Colorado district that includes Garfield County. Baumgardner was the second Colorado legislator to face expulsion this session over harassment claims.

On March 2, Colorado state Rep. Steve Lebsock was expelled following complaints he harassed or intimidated five women, including a fellow lawmaker. Lebsock’s ouster came after Arizona Republican Rep. Don Shooter was expelled Feb. 1 over misconduct claims. A California lawmaker resigned before debate on his expulsion could commence.

Monday’s vote in Colorado was the latest confrontation in the Legislature this session over sexual harassment allegations involving several lawmakers that arose with the #MeToo movement last fall. That movement saw millions of women taking to social media to publicize their experiences with sexual harassment in and out of the workplace.

Five Colorado lawmakers have been accused of misconduct in recent months.

Democratic Rep. Paul Rosenthal was cleared of allegations he harassed a political activist before he was elected in 2012.

A third-party investigator determined that the former aide’s claims against Baumgardner were credible. The aide said that Baumgardner grabbed and slapped her buttocks on more than one occasion during the 2016 session.

Grantham had deemed Baumgardner’s case closed following the investigation and after Baumgardner resigned as chair of the powerful transportation committee.

Democrats argued the punishment was too light and sent the wrong message to victims. They had lobbied for weeks to have their expulsion resolution introduced for debate.

Colorado’s Democratic Senate minority leader stepped down from that post last month, citing frustration with majority Republicans’ handling of workplace harassment allegations. Sen. Lucia Guzman of Denver had struggled with Senate Republican leaders over the handling of misconduct allegations against the three Republican lawmakers.

Grantham had refused to allow debate. He described some of the anonymous accusations against senators as tantamount to “assault,” and he had urged prosecutors to investigate harassment complaints at the Capitol.

Grantham has pledged to work with Democrats to produce a new workplace harassment policy for the Legislature. Leaders of the House and Senate are set to discuss a proposal by an outside consultant on Wednesday.

Democrats had introduced their resolution calling for debate on Baumgardner after Lebsock was expelled March 9. Each day, they appealed to Republicans — most of whom would leave the chamber — for debate on the resolution.

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